Can-sealing machine



Oct. l0, 1944.

W. D. JORDAN CAN SEALING lMACHINE Filed Jan. 8, '1941V s sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1944. w` D. JORDAN CAN SEALING MACHINE e sheets-sheet INVENTOR.

Filed Jan. 8,. 1941 ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1944. W` D, JORDAN l 2,359,766

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1941 e sheets-sheet s INVENT R.

LA 429ml ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1944. w. D. JORDAN 2,359,766

' CAN sEALING MACHINE v Filed Jan. 8, 1941 e sheets-sheet 4 Oct. 10, 1944.I w. D. JORDAN 2,359,765

` CAN SEALING` MACHINE Filed Jan, 8, 1941 e sheets-sheet 5 W INVENTOR n ATTQNYS Oct. 10, 1944. w` D, JORDAN 2,359,766

' CAN sEALING MACHINE r Filed Jan. s, 1941 e sheets-sheet 6 a 2f 24 l ATTONYS Patented Oct. 10, 1944 STATES Application January s, 1941, serial No. :i-3,687

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine or apparatus for sealing or closing irregularly shaped containers under other than normal atmcsphcric conditions, for example as under a vacuum or inert gas pressure, and has particular reference to a machine for rapidly and economi- Acally handling filled cans of such character, to the end that vacuum or if desired inert gas pressure conditions may be imparted to and maintained in the cans.

More specifically, the invention is directed to treating and sealing iilled cans as above described, wherein each can is packed with a Whole or individual ham. Due to the configuration or shape of such product, the cans are of irregular shape as an economical expedient, so as to conform more or less to the shape of the contained product and, generally speaking, these cans while not of triangular cross section may be described as substantially having the form of a truncated cone when viewed in cross section or end elevation.

Cans of such irregular shape are not adapted to be vacuumized or gassed and then sealed in ordinary vacuumi'zing machines of the character now generally employed for so treating and sealing cans of the usual cylindrical form, and wherein the upper ends of the cans after vacuumizing are introduced into a seaming head and sealed by means of seaming rolls, as the lat.- ter are moved inwardly and traverse a circular path of travel in engagement with the can end and body iianges to interfold and interlock the same, for example in the well known double seam. For this reason it has been diicult to provid-e a machine wherein cans of irregular shape, such as contemplated by the present invention, may be quickly and economically sealed by commercially practicable machinery and under Vacuumizing or gassing conditions.

'I'he present invention contemplates the provision of a commercially practicable and economical machine for such a purpose as has been above described.

Whole hams are packed in irregularly shaped cans which are thereafter provided with the usual end seams, but wherein vacuum conditions do not obtain, and. therefore air is not excluded from the interior of the can. For the purpose of thereafter treating the closed cans by a niachine constructed in accordance with the present through such a vent hole by means of the instant machine, and after such vacuumizing or gassing operation the vent hole is sealed by meltv ing and flowing the adjacent pellet of solder prior to removing the cans from the air-free condition or environment.

In certain respects the machine constitutes an improvement which is related t0 the invention disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,162,768, issued June 20, 1939, to Cliiord Titchen and Wilhelm Boehl, for Container sealing machine. Said patent discloses a machine wherein cylindrical cans of short size and constituting small job lots may be passed through the usual vacuum closing machine together with full sized lots of the product contained within normal or full sized cans of greater height. Manually operated. solder tipping devices are present in sucha machine for closing small vent holes in such smaller or short height cans under vacuumizing or gassing conditions and the usual double seaming loperation, which is performed in the machine on the taller or standard lot containers, is also operable so as to eiect greater eiliciency and economy in the handling and sealing of. such containers of varying heights. Small job lot containers are not of suicient height to be elevated into contact with the sealing rollers, and therefore are unaffected thereby as theypass through the seaming head mechanism after they have been sealed under vacuum conditions by a solder tipping operation.

However, the machine disclosed in the Titchen A patent is designed for operating on cylindrical cans only, and such a machine could not be ,employed to accomplish the present improvements which are specifically designed to operate' upon cans of irregular configuration, such for exam` ber, and immediately thereafter removing from improvements, a small vent hole is provided in n the can, and adjacent to said vent hole ai drop or pellet of solder'is placed so as to enable the can to be subsequently vacuumized or gassed said chamber and in succession cans which have been vacuumized or gassed and subsequently sealed by a manually operated solder tipping operation. All of these steps are performed rapidly and ina continuous manner by a novel mechanism which has been designed and assembled for obtaining the above described improvements in machines of this character and for the purposes described.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is atop plan view of a. machine constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention, portions f the same being broken away or shown in horizontal section for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine, partially cut away and partially in vertical section,

looking from the entrance or feed-in end thereof' or from the lower end of Figi;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view through the machine, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is `an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 4 5 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the solder tipping or sealing operation on a filled can after the latter has been vacuumized;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the solder tipping mechanism after'the sealing operation has been completed or immediately prior to such an operation;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view illustrating the manner of operating and manipulating the soldering iron. said view being Itaken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 2, and illustrating a portion of the mechanism for advancing and elevating the cans to be vacuumized an sealed;

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view showing a portion of the mechanism illustrated at the left hand of Fig. 3 and showing a can to be sealed in elevated position within a radial pocket of the turret or conveyor within the vacuumizing chamber; and

Figs. 9, 10 and 11.are similar views illustrating such a can in different positions and also its relation to the advance of succeeding cans to be vacuumized and sealed.

The containers or cans to be vacuumized and sealed are introduced into the machine, for example by hand, to a longitudinally reciprocating feed slide memberfby means of `which the cans are successively and progressively advanced to beneath a peripheral pocket of a centrally mounted conveyor or turret disposed for intermittent rotation within a closed vacuum chamber sealed against ingress of outside atmosphere.` As each can is so positioned it is elevated into a said pocket of the turret while the latter is at rest, and a succeeding .-movement of the turret sweeps the can from the lifting pad or plunger into the vacuum chamber where desirable vacuum conditions obtain, and by means of which the air from within the can is exhausted through the smali aperture which is subsequently sealed by the solder tipping operation.

'Ihe said turret pockets are each open from top to bottom to permit vacuumizing of the cans or the supply of gas under pressure thereto, as well as sealing of said cans, through the upper ends of the pockets, and to permit entrance and subsequent discharge of the cans through the lower ends of the turret pockets.

Since the vacuumizing or gassing operation necessarily is carried out through the relatively small vent hole in the can, the passage of the latter through the vacuum chamber is for a considerable period and preferably is carried out for nearly a complete rotation of 360 degrees of the glrret within the vacuumizing or gassing cham- The above described intermittent movement of a turret pocket to sweep an incoming can from the lifterpad or plunger into the vacuum chamber for the initial stage of the vacuumizing or gassing operation, simultaneously sweeps a vacuumized and sealed can from the sealing station directly on to the said lifter pad, at which time the turret momentarily comes to rest to permit such sealed can to be removed from the chamber and turret pocket by the descent of the lifter plunger. This movement re-positions the sealed can to be engaged by the reciprocating feed device, to the end that the next feeding movement to be sealed upon the lifter pad in readiness to bev elevated into an appropriately positioned pocket of the conveyor turret within the vacuum or sealing chamber.

In the disclosed embodiment of the machine a succession of twelve feeding movements of the turret carries the can completely through or around the vacuumizing or gassing chamber to its original entrance position, and means are provided for exerting a vacuum, or if desired gas pressure, on the vented can during all but one of these intermittent movements, the latter being the simultaneous entrance and discharge movements of cans disposed within adjacent turret pockets.

Means are provided to insure against entrance of air into the turret pockets during rotation within the vacuumizing and sealing chamber, while permitting free and intermittent rotation of the turret with a minimum of friction. Means are further provided for firmly holding the cans in predetermined position within the turret pockets so that they cannot shift relative to their original position during their intermittent travel through the chamber. This also facilitates sealing of the cans, which is the final step performed in the machine immediately prior to the discharge of thefcans therefrom.

The machine further comprises conveniently and readily manipulative devices for solder tipping the cans at the final sealing station, after the iilled cans have been completely vacuumized or gassed. and the machine also contemplates effective devices for intermittently advancing the cans through a longitudinal path of travel relative to the vacuumizing chamber and conveyor turret. These latter means are 'associated and cooperate with the automatically operative means for intermittently introducing the cans to be sealed into successive turret pockets, as well as removing vacuumized and sealed cans therefroml and discharging the same from. the machine.

A preferred iform of apparatus which is disclosed in the drawings, and in which an embodiment of the invention is illustrated, comprises a central base frame or housing generally indicatedat I0 and which is of suitable configuration to accommodate and support the various operative parts of the machine. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the said frame portion includes a substantially centrally and vertically disposed pedestal I I, which serves in part to support a substantially continuous stationary vacuumizing or gassing cham-ber housing indicated at I2. The latter includes a top plate member I3, a continuous peripheral side wall member I4, and an inwardly extending bottom wall member I which may be integrally formed with the said side wall of the chamber and is supported by or constitutes an integral part of the `base frame I0.

At its central portion the top plate member I3 of the chamber is provided with a centrally disposed hollow boss portion I6, engaging a reduced portion I1 of the pedestal, and rigidly secured to the latter. as by a clamping bolt or nut I8. Said top plate or wall I3 of the vacuum chamber is further formed or provided with a. substantially central upstanding wall or housing I9 enclosing or defining an auxiliary chamber 20 adjacent the central supporting medium of the main vacuumizing or gassing chamber I2. This auxiliary chamber is further provided with a central port 2I affording access to a source of vacuum or gas pressure, depending upon the desired use of the machine.

A rotatable conveyor or can receiving turret valve T is disposed within and in close fitting engagement with the chamber I2, and includes a central tubular sleeve member 22 journaled on the pedestal II, an intermediate closed bottom wall 23, and an outer peripheral wall portion 24 of substantial thickness closely tting the peripheral side wall I4 of the vacuumizing or gassing chamber I2. Said outer wall of the turret conveyor is cut away from top to bottom at circumferentially spaced intervals to provide open ended, but otherwise closed, can receiving pockets 25 (Figs. l and 3), and in the illustrated embodiment of the machine twelve of these pockets are present in the turret or valve, to the end that a said pocket will be positioned at the can receivlng and discharge station of the turret at each intermittent rotation of the latter.

The top plate or wall member I3 of the chamber l2 is suitably apertured above all but a single turret pocket for the reception of ya nipple 26, and the housing I9 of the auxiliary chamber 20 is similarly apertured at spaced intervals for the reception of a corresponding nipple or tube 21. Suitable radially disposed tubes or conduits 28, which may be constructed of exible material, serve to connect the said nipples. to the end that communication is afforded between the said auxiliary chamber 20 and each pocket 25 of the turret valve with the exception of the pocket which is disposed at the can entrance and discharge station of the machine. This is for the reason that the turret pocket at said station is in communication with theA outside atmosphere, and therefore vacuum or gas pressure conditions at this locality would serve no effective purpose and so are not desirable. The said auxiliary chamber 20 is in communication at its upper end with any suitable air exhausting or vacuum source, or if desired, with a source of inert gas supply, by means of an appropriate'pipeconnection,a portion of which communicates with said chamber beng indicated at 28a'.

In the illustrated embodiment of the machine, the bottom wall 23 of the conveyor turret or valve is supported on anti-friction roller bearings indicated at 29 and interposed between the turret valve and an outwardly extended peripheral base portion 30 of the pedestal II, on which the turret valve is -Journaled. The central tubular vsleeve portion 22 of the turret valve is suitably bored or apertured at spaced intervals for the reception of compression springs 3I resting at their lower ends against bearing blocks 32 and tensioned at their opposite ends against nut members 33 having threaded engagement with said apertures, and by means of which the tension of said springs which determine the degree of bearing pressure of the valve turret against the bottom wall of a vacuum chamber and against the anti-friction roller bearings 29 may be varied as desired.

The means for intermittently rotating the conveyor or valve turret within the vacuum or pressure chamber I2, comprise a plurality of depending peripherally spaced anti-friction or cam rollers 34, suitablyv journaled in the 'bottom wail 23 of the turret, said rollers being disposed andpositioned for successive engagement with the' spiral groove 35 of a spiral gear element Sii (Figs. l and 2) carried by a shaft 31 which may be continuously driven by any appropriate means, not shown, so as to operate in synchronism and in time with other moving parts of the machine. This Geneva mechanism is a well known mechanical expedient for obtaining intermittent or step-by-step rotation when desired. It will be understood that when a cam roller 34 is engaged by the spiral groove 35 of the continuously rotating spiral gear element '36, the valve turret is I rotated for a partial revolution, and during the periods between engagements of said roller and groove, the turret is at rest. The peripheral advance by said groove of a said roller on the turret positions a succeeding roller for subsequent engagement by the spiral groove of Ythe wheel for a further advancement after the rest period. Y

The filled cans, which may each contain a whole ham and which are to be vacu'urnzed or gassed, and thereafter sealed, are introduced for example by' hand at a feeding station generally indicated at A in the drawings. These irregularly shaped cans are indicated at a and are provided with the usual end seams a. Adjacent one end seam and opposite to the fiat side wall of the same, each can is provided witha small yvent hole or aperture b and a solder pellet c adjacent thereto. At the feeding station the cans are fed into the machines on their sides and resting upon a flat portion of the side wall as best seen in' Fig. 2, with the vent aperture b and adjacent solder pellet c in uppermost position (compare Figs. 1 and 4).

At such station the cans are successively `placed upon a flat table 31 adjacent a longitudinally and horizontally reciprocable feed bar or slide member indicated at 38, said cans being postioned between a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding guide elements 39' which, as best seen in Fig. 1, are adjustably mounted to accommodate iilled cans of varying dimensions. The said reciprocating feed slide member rests on the table 31 and is retained in position by a gib member 31a secured to the table. The slide member includes a depending lug 40 at its forward end, which extends down through a slot in the table 31 and which serves as a pivotal mounting for' a link 42 in turn pivotally secured at its inner end as at d3 to the uppervor outer end of a lever M.

Said lever is secured at its lower end to a rock shaft in turn secured to a bearing member 46 of a suitable web or bracket member 41, in turn secured to or constituting a part of the base frame II! of the machine. As best seen in Figs.

rocked or oscillated to reciprocate the feed bar or slide member 38 in time and in synchronism with the other moving parts of the machine.

A lifter pad or plunger 5I is disposed in the path of the slide member 38 so as to receive thereon an incoming can a at the conclusion of the inward movement of said slide. The lifter pad is disposed directly beneath a pocket 25 of the turret valve, the bottom wall I5 of the valve casing or vacuum chamber housing being cut away at its forward end as indicated at 52 to provide an entrance opening for the can into the said forwardly positioned turret valve pocket. A :pair of stationary guide or Wall members 53 are provided on the table 31 on opposite sides of the pad or plunger 5I so as to insure the can will be accurately positioned on the pad directly beneath the entrance opening 52 at the conclusion of the inward stroke of the feed slide bar member 38.

The lifter pad or plunger 5I is carried on the upper end of a rack bar 54 mounted at its opposite ends for vertical sliding movement in a .bracket member 55 suitably secured to the machine frame, the latter being apertured as at 56 (Fig. 3) to permit clearance for said rack bar.

A gear sector member 51 is secured to a rock shaft 58 journaled at the upper end of bracket member 41, the teeth of said gear element meshing with corresponding teeth on the vertically reciprocable rack bar 54. A lever 59 is secured to the rock shaft adjacent the gear sector element, and at its lower end is pivotally secured as at 60 to the outer end of a link or rod 6|. The inner end of said rod is secured to a suitable operative part of the machine (not shown) in a similar manner as above described in respect to rod member 49 (Fig. '7), so that reciprocation of the rod through gear sector 51 will elevate and lower the lifter pad or plunger 5| in synchronism with the other moving parts of the machine, as will be readily understod.

When a positioned can to be treated and sealed is moved inwardly by the feed bar 38, the lifter pad 5I is in lowermost position, as shown in Fig, 3, so as to receive said can in centered position thereon. The feed bar then moves rearwardly in posi-tion to receive thereon a succeeding can, and immediately thereafter the lifter -pad is elevated by the described rack and gear mechanism to position its supported can within the open pocket of the turret valve or carrier member, as best seen in Fig. 8, the said turret being momentarily stationary during this movement of the lifter pad. Each pocket 25 of the valve or turret member includes means for yieldingly holding the can in clamped position within its pocket while being treated therein and until it is flnally discharged. Such means comprise a clamping element of angular configuration and including a vertical leg 62 mounted for vertical reciprocation within guide members 63 of the turret valve pocket, and a horizontally extending arm 64 having a pad or arm 85 disposed to engage the upper end of a can as the same is projected by the lifter pad into the valve pocket. The said clamping member is normally maintained in a depressed position within its pocket by a tension spring '66 secured at its upper end to the clamping element and suitably secured at its lower end to the turret pocket. The tension of the spring is such as to permit the clamping element to move upwardly with an incoming can and thereafter the spring tension holds the clamping member against the can during subsequent movements of the turret valve or carrier to accompany the can through or around the machine.

While the can is positioned and held under spring tension within the turret pocket, as shown in Fig. 8, a partial rotation is imparted to the turret valve by the above described movement of spiral gear element 36. This serves to sweep the can from the lifter pad and into the closed non-apertured portion of the turret valve gassing or vacuum chamber I2, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 1 wherein the said intermittent rotation of the turret valve or carrier is in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by arrow 81.

Assuming the can is to be vacuumized, the described movement of -the turret valve carrier positions the can for the first vacuuming operation in a portion of the chamber I2 which is in communication with the rst flexible connection 28 at the lower right hand portion of the machine as viewed in'Fig. 1, it being understood that such initial v-acuumizing chamber is formed by the four walls of the turret pocket or recess 25, and the upper and lower Wall members I3 and I5 of the chamber I2. Suction or exhaust is applied at this time to the can through the connections 26, 28, 21, 20, 2| and 28a, and air is exhausted from the can through the .small vent hole b disposed adjacent a previously applied solder pellet c. The succeeding intermittent rotation of the turret valve positions the can for continued vacuumizing through the vent hole beneath the next suction pipe connection 28, as Viewed in Fig. l, and it will be understood that these operations continue during the intermittent rotation of the turret valve, there being a delay for vacuumizing beneath each of the radially extending suction pipe connections 28.

The can sealing station is indicated at B and is disposed in the machine immediately adjacent the can entrance and discharge station, and to the left thereof as viewed in Fig. 1. By the time the can reaches the sealing station it has been completely vacuumized through its small vent hole aperture b by a series of separate vacuum izing operations at the conclusion of each partial rotation of the turret to place the can beneath the successive radially extending suction pipe connections 28, as best seen in Fig. 1.

The can is now ready for final sealing4 and `during this time it is preferable that the completely vacuumized can remain under vacuum conditions during the sealing operation. Such vacuum at the sealing station B is maintained by the final suction pipe connection 28, illustrated at the lower left hand nortion of' Fig. 1. After the sealing operation the next partial rotation of the turret valve positions the vacuumized and sealed can on the lifter pad plunger 5I, which at such time is in elevated position. Such partial rotation of the turret simultaneously moves an incoming can from the lifter pad to the first vacuumizing station, and a sealed can from the sealing station B to such elevated lifter pad. This insures that all turret valve pockets of the machine are continuously supplied with cans during operation.

As above described Fig. 8 ,shows a can to be treated projected into the open chamber of the stationary valve turret with feed bar 38 in rewall H of the housing 88.

assa'zce tracted position to receive the next incoming can between the adjustable guide members 39.

Fig. 9 shows the lifter pad 5| retracted with a vacuumized and sealed can thereon, and a partial revolution of the turret valve having occurred immediately prior to lowering the lifter pad so as to remove the can in Fig. 8 therefrom for vacuumizing and simultaneously placing the sealed can of Fig, 9 thereon f or discharge from the machina Fig. 10 illustrates the next operation, wherein the sealed can a of Fig. 9 has been lfurther advanced to the right by forward movement of the feed 'slide member, and onto the endless discharge conveyor. A succeeding can to be sealed is shown at the left in this figure on the lifter plunger in position to be projected into the empty can pocket of Fig. 9. This positioning movement of the left hand can of Fig. 10 is simultaneously with the removal of the sealed can from the lifter pad and while turret valve pocket 25 remains stationary and in the position shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l shows the next succeeding operation, wherein the incoming can at the left of Fig. l has been projected by the lifter pad into the stationary can pocket 25 while the feed bar slide member has been retracted for the next can, the first mentioned sealed can bein'g illustrated as further advanced by the endless belt conveyor to nal discharge position.

The operation of sealing the vacuumized or bar 82l for relative longitudinal movement therein. Said bracket or frame 83 is cut away on its i,

'so as to receive and be adapted to seat therein the shank portion 88 of an electric soldering iron 81. A pair of split collar members 88 having screws 89 serve to rigidly clamp the soldering iron shank to the spaced arms 85. By loosening Y the screws the shank of the soldering iron may gassed cans at sealing station B will now be de- 69 in a manner best illustrated in Fig. 6. One l end of the shaft 18 is journaled in a bearing member 12 secured in a suitably apertured portion of one side wall 1|, and at its outer end said shaft is provided with a hand operating wheel 13.

The opposite end of the shaft is journaled for rotation within opposed bearing portions 18, 16a, respectively secured to and integrally formed with a partially hollow sleeve member 15, in turn journaled for rotation within a bearing member 16 suitably secured in the opposite side A hand operating wheel 11 is secured to a stud member 18 in turn rigidly secured to thesleeve 15 by means of a transverse pin 19. The shaft 10 intermediate its length is secured as by a pin 80 to the hub portion of a pinion 8l housed within an enlarged portion of the sleeve 15, and having meshing engagement with the teeth of a rack member or bar 82 slidably secured between the bearing member 14 and the inner end of sleeve 15 and disposed in an elongated hollow bracket member 83 formed integrally with Vthe sleeve 15. The said rack bar 82 is further maintained in its described position by a side plate 83a which is secured to the bracket member 83 (see also Figs. 4 and 5). The side plate is formed with a hub portion 85 journaled for oscillatory movement on shaft 18.

Thus the bracket member 8-3 constitutes a pivotally mounted frame for housing the rack be adjusted to any desired position longitudinally of its supporting bracket 83 to compensate for cans of varying heights designed to' b'e solder tipped at the sealing station within a positioned pocket '25 of the intermittently rotatable valve turret or carrier.

It will therefore be seen that by the described arrangement the electric soldering iron 81 is designed for longitudinalmovement relative to its supporting bracket or frame 83, and is also adapted for oscillating movement bodily with the frame as the latter is rocked on shaft lil. These combined movements permit the desirable and necessary manipulation of the soldering iron for a'solder tipping operation on a positioned can as shown in Fig. 4.

Electric power for heating the soldering iron is supplied' from any desired source through a hollow conduit 98 having an end thereof suitably secured in the housing 68, a flexible cable 9i (Fig. 4) for carrying the circuit'fWires to the upper end of the soldering iron and leading from conduit 98, being provided for this purpose. A glass or other transparent panel 92` is seated at 93 against an inclined outer wall portion 98 of the housing 68, said wall portion being apertured as at 95 adjacent the soldering iron, and said transparent panel being removably secured in place in its seat by means of a centrally apertured cover plate or frame 96, in turn secured to said wall portion by meansof screws 91 or other" securing elements. This affords the solder tipping operator standing exteriorlyv of the machine a clear view of the solder tipping operation, and

enables him to accurately and rapidlypmanipulate the soldering iron for such purpose. An electric lamp 98 is secured to an appropriate portion of the housing 63 and on the interior thereof, so as to illuminate the interior of said housing, to the end that the operator may readily view the positioned vacuumized or gassedcans to be' solder tipped and sealed. Such a lamp may be supplied with power from exteriorly of the machine, as by means of a conduit 99 leading to said Y lamp, and for example screw threaded intojra removable cover plate I 00, byvmeans .of- .wl1icl1';` said lamp and its socket lill` may be removablyJ: i secured to the sealing housing 68, as by mean-s1j of screws H12 or other securingmeans.v l v I From the foregoing it will-be apparent.: that 1` when a can to be sealed is positionedatisealingl station B, for example as viewedrin- Fig.'5;-"i1thex soldering iron is in elevatedposition so as'to' permit clearance therebeneath ofv the turret valve pocket 25 as the latter brings acan into position' at the sealing station. 'I'he operator by rotating handle 13 (Fig. 6) at one end of shaft 10, rotates pinion 8| secured on said shaft and in the proper direction to lower the soldering iron through intermeshing rack bar 82 into the sealing posito lill and seal the vent hole -b of the now completely vacuumized or' gassed can. Upon conclusion of the solder tipping operation, and prior.

to a further movement or intermittent step-bystep rotation of .the can carrying turret valve, the operator again elevates the soldering iron to the position shown in Fig. 5 by turning hand wheel 13 in the opposite direction. This aiords the desired clearance to permit a succeeding can to be positioned for sealing. 1

As has been hereinabove described this positioning of a succeeding can to be solder tipped at the sealing station B simultaneously removes such sealed can from the station and onto the lifter pad 5|, which is now in elevated position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11. The synchronized movements of the mechanism now serve to lower the lifter pad with its sealed can thereon into the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10, where the next succeeding inward can feeding movement of the slide bar 38 removes the sealed can from the pad, and positions it upon the inner end of a suitable discharge conveyor, such as an endless .point the sealed cans may be removed, or discharged to any appropriate place of deposit. The upper can supporting flight of the endless discharge belt conveyor |03 passes over a table element |01 removably positioned in place beneath the said upper belt flight, as by means of inner and outer xed pin or rod elements |08 secured in the machine frame. Opposite side Walls or depending ange' portions |09l of the table may` be suitably recessed at spaced intervals, as at I0, so as to receive the supporting rod members |08. If desired auxiliary belt supporting antifriction feed rollers (Fig. 3) may be provided to faciiiate the discharge of the sealed cans thereon.

The discharge conveyor belt |03 and the cans supported thereon may pass between suitably spaced wall portions ||2 of the machine frame, such spaced wall portions constituting a can guiding passageway or tunnel disposed beneath the stationary housing I2 which supports the vacuumizing and can sealing devices.

Th invention contemplates but does not disclose means such as an electric motor for operating the various movable elements and devices of the machine, such for example as is clearly disclosed in the patent to Titchen et ai. The invention further contemplates the provision in the electrical circuit of appropriately located hand or foot' operated switch, within reach of the can sealing operator, to enable I the current to be cut oil and the machine temporarily stopped if desired when more than the usual time is required for the solder tipping operation. Such switch means for example are fully disclosed in the aforesaid patent to Titchen et al. However, a skilled operator may perform the solder tipping or sealing operation at sealing station B during the periods when the intermittently rotating can carrying turretfor valve is normally at rest, thereby rendering it unnecessary 4to temporarily cease operation of the machine for this purpOSe.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention ord sacricing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. In a machine for treating and sealing filled containers, the combination of a substantially closed housing, a peripherally pocketed turret valve mounted within said housing and having means for rotating. the same from va container receiving station first through a container treating station and thence to a container sealingstation, the peripheral pockets of said valve being open at their bottom ends and successively registrable with an opening in the bottom wall of said housing, means for successively positioning said containers .beneath said housing inL registry with said housing opening, reciprocating means operable in one direction to project a positioned con- .tainer to be treated and sealed through said opening into a valve pocket in registry therewith and in the opposite direction to remove through said housing opening a treated sealed container from a succeeding valve pocket to be discharged from the machine, and means for actuating said reciprocating means for the purposes described.

'2. In a machine for vacuumizing and sealing lled containers partially open to atmosphere. the combination of a substantially closed sta.- tionary housing,.a peripherally pocketed turret valve mounted within said housing and having means for rotating' the same on a xed vertical axis from a container receiving station rst through a container vacuumizing station and thence to a container sealing station within said housing, the peripheral pockets of said valve being open at their top and bottom ends and successively registrable with an opening in the bottom wall of said housing, independent means at said container vacuumizing and sealing stations respectively for vacuumizing and thereafter for sealing the partially open lled containers, means for successively positioning containers to be vacuumized and sealed beneath said housing in registry 'with said housing opening, reciprocating means operable in one directionv to project a positioned containerto be vacuumized and sealed through said opening into a valve pocket and means for actuating said reciprocating means for the purposes described.

3. In a machine for gassing and solder sealing filled containers partially open to atmosphere, the combination of a substantially closed stationary housing, a peripherally pocketed turret valve mounted within said housing and having means for intermittently rotating the same said valve being open at their top andbottom ends and successively registrable with an opening in the bottom wall of said housing, independent means at said container gassing and sealing stations respectively for gassing and thereafter for solder tipping the partially open lled containers, means for successively positioning con-v tainers to be gassed and sealed beneath said housing in registry with said housing opening.

7 vertically reciprocable means operable in an upward direction'to project a'positioned container'l to be gassed and sealed lthrough said opening into a valve pocket momentarily in registry herewith and in a reverse downward direction to remove through said housing opening a gassed and solder sealed container from a succeeding valve pocket to be discharged from the machine. means for actuating said vertically reciprocating means for the purposes described, and means for discharging the gassed and solder sealed containers from the machine.

. WARREN D. JORDAN. 

